The World's Most Successful Wine Festival Focuses On Mental Health In 2019

The 19th annual Naples Winter Wine Festival enjoyed yet another breathtaking year of fund-raising bringing in just under $16 million for the at-risk and disadvantaged children of Collier County Florida. The Festival is the world’s most successful, having raised $191 million since its 2001 inception. It also attracts the finest talents in wine and food, luminaries such as Chef Charlie Palmer and Vintner Olivier Krug come to The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples each January to donate, collaborate and reconnect. Tim Mondavi, son of the late Robert Mondavi and Partner of Continuum Estate, has been attending the auction for years. Says Mondavi, “There are so many reasons to love this auction. My father was one of the auction’s first ‘Honored Vintners,’ and we are a wine family. Whenever you gather people that love great food and great wine together it is our kind of place.”

During the Live Auction (which lasts close to six hours and includes over 60 lots) chefs and winemakers make the rounds. Chef Palmer snacks on popcorn in the back of the tent--he’s enjoying the day, having spent the night before preparing a multi-course meal for a group of festival goers. Honored Vintners Bart and Daphne Araujo of Accendo Cellars mingle with the bidders and later in the evening, winemaker Jeff Gargiulo will take the stage with his guitar for the “Wine Down” dance party. Tucked into every imaginable corner is wine--amazing wine, rare wine, aged wine, new releases, different formats--with 30 vintners and 18 Master Sommeliers to do the talking and pouring. A wine lover could not ask for more. But ask any one of the Festival-goers what impresses them the most (it’s not this year's 990K bid for a private yacht excursion), the answer every time is the work being done by The Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF). The Foundation uses raised funds to target a range of issues including early learning, healthcare, hunger, mental health, oral health, vision, and out-of-school time for Collier County Florida’s at-risk children. However, this year’s event is especially relevant because of the focus on mental health and toxic stress in children, and the Festival's Fund-a-Need proceeds will directly support early identification, expert diagnosis, and effective treatment of childhood psychiatric and learning disorders.

Meet the Kids Day at Naples Winter Wine FestivalNWWF

Jamie Araujo of Accendo Cellars nods with emotion when asked what she thought about Meet the Kids Day (when donors and guests hear first-hand about what the NCEF is doing with the funds raised). “This year was just remarkable,” says Araujo. She’s referring to the above-mentioned mental health initiatives and the promise they show in helping at-risk children. Tim Mondavi was also quite moved, adding, “The NCEF are asking questions that haven’t been asked before and answering them in ways that are actionable and bringing the focus to mental health in a way that can care for kids when they need it.” His daughter Carissa Mondavi agrees, “We all see the terrible events on the news and what the NCEF is doing is working towards a solution; offering a template to go forward.” Indeed, a weekend of the finest in wine and food may not be what one considers when reflecting on this nation’s struggle with mental illness and school shootings but now they are intertwined in the most hopeful of ways.

Carlo Mondavi, who works with Continuum and his own winery, RAEN Winery, takes note of the Festival’s positive energy. “Everyone here wants to give. This is such a great way to come together and throw a party that has huge benefits for the community.” He recalls his grandfather’s favorite saying, “Interest is not enough, you have to have passion. Bring heart and soul to everything you do.” Indeed, the people behind the success of the Naples Winter Wine Festival have put their passion to work in the best of ways. Robert Mondavi would be proud.

I’ve been trotting the globe in pursuit of wine, food and travel stories for over 16 years. From the vineyards of New Zealand to the press houses of Champagne, I’ve met a world of fascinating people who have stories to share. In between adventures I review restaurants for T...